UK - Stabal Media Group has expanded and has incorporated the live music legacy and global network of Artclub Live as a specialist division, led by newly appointed head of live music, Joe Clegg.
Clegg joins Stabal to extend its global reach and network of artists. Having founded Artclub Live to provide creative, musical and technical production support for artists worldwide, he has previously worked as live music producer on the Mumford & Sons Delta World Tour, and as musical director for artists including Ellie Goulding, Clean Bandit, and Aurora, featuring in performances with more than 100m combined views.
"With the return of live music on the horizon, I’m excited to be working with Stabal to create a division focussed on the integration of live music experiences and digital content,” says Clegg. “With a global network of musical directors and audio engineers we will be positioned to ensure consistent, high-quality performances on platform and out on the road.
“I have been fortunate to have experienced the euphoria of a live show from the stage, front of house and in an OB truck in the middle of a festival field. Now I’m looking forward to working with the Stabal team to help capture many more high-quality, engaging digital performances on location around the world.”
Stabal has established itself as a live performance digital platform, since forming in 2018, delivering over 100 online shows with artists such as 3 Doors Down, Kid Rock, Lee Brice, Bellowhead, Drake White and Chris Tomlin.
Steve Odart, CEO of Stabal came
France - IP video specialist Vitec has announced that Eric Deniau has joined the company as chief technology officer.
“IP video streaming continues to grow across all markets as more and more enterprises harness the power of their networks to deliver and manage video traffic,” said Philippe Wetzel, CEO of Vitec.
“The pace of innovation that is taking place in IPTV is accelerating as organizations across industries elevate their dependence on video streaming.
“Eric will be joining Vitec as CTO to lead technology innovation and R&D efforts worldwide. He has a deep knowledge of software and a sophisticated understanding of hardware products that will enhance the experience and capabilities of Vitec’s talented R&D leadership team. He is tasked with developing the next generation of codecs, ASIC technologies, and software solutions that will power Vitec products for years to come.”
Eric was most recently with Enensys as CTO and has over 30 years of experience in the media industry, including experience managing large software projects for major broadcasters, and has played a major role with the standards communities that have brought interoperable MPEG, DVB and 3GPP technologies to market.
Italy - Pro lighting company Zalight has appointed Luca Di Donato as business development manager.
“To face future challenges the best way, I will have a great friend and one of the best Italian professionals, Luca Di Donato, by my side, comments Zalight owner Graziano Zanini. “Luca has a deep knowledge of the professional market both in the entertainment and architectural fields, due to the many years he spent as commercial manager for companies of international standing. I am sure that together we will bring Zalight to a higher level of diffusion and competitiveness on the Italian market."
"I share with Graziano mutual esteem and identity of views,” says Luca Di Donato. "I’m going to bring my contribution to make Zalight grow and make it evolve into a modern marketing-oriented company following the current path, in which the customer has always been at the very centre.”
France - Arbane Groupe has hired Christophe Palluat de Besset as its sales director for France. Palluat will work to create new sales dynamics within the company and develop commercial activity with the APG and Active Audio brands which are both part of Arbane Group.
With over 25 years of expertise in the AV industry, Palluat brings considerable experience working with audio manufacturers and distributors, notably Arbane Groupe’s Active Audio. “I worked in a number of roles before founding pro-audio distribution company Perfect Sound in 2009,” Palluat explains. “At the time, Active Audio’s commercial distribution in France was given exclusively to Perfect Sound, so I know Active Audio very well.
“I spent 11 years working for Perfect Sound as their CEO and came to know and respect the APG and Active Audio brands beyond their reputations,” said Palluat. “When both brands announced their strategic partnership in 2016, I thought it was the perfect partnership that would pave the way to a great future for both brands. APG’s product lines are excellent and Active Audio is known as the French manufacturer of the world’s largest range of column speakers. My experience tells me that both product lines will perform extremely well in the installation markets for AV integrators.”
Palluat’s immediate goal is to present Arbane Groupe’s comprehensive and complementary audio ranges and services to AV integrators across France and continue to grow the company base and reputation.
“APG benefits from a fantastic reputation with techn
Middle East - Creative Technology Middle East has welcomed two new additions to its operations. Dailos Rodriguez has joined as venue operations manager for the company’s newly-formed venue services department. He has over 24 years of experience in the hospitality and AV industry and has worked across multiple venues. He has secured various high-profile contracts during his time and implemented in-house AV services for some of the Middle East's biggest hotel chains.
Of his appointment, Rodriguez says: "It is a great honour joining the CT team, and I look forward to getting started on the variety of fantastic projects we already have lined up."
Also joining the team is Mark Johnson, who has been appointed business development manager for venue services. With over 19 years of experience in the AV hospitality industry, he brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to his role, says the company. Johnson has secured several large-scale contracts across various venues and has been a key factor in the growth and development of many different AV venue services throughout the region. He states: "It's very endearing to be a part of Creative Technology's new Venue Services department from conception! I look forward to accomplishing many new first with CT."
Andrew Reardon, MD for Creative Technology Middle East, comments: "It is an exciting time for the Middle East as we continue to grow and expand our team of professionals and our offering. It is a pleasure to have both Mark and Dailos on board, and I wish them all the best going forward."
Germany - Audio specialist Pan Acoustics has announced that Johannes Kampert has joined the company as head of global sales. In the position he will be responsible for all worldwide sales activity and will drive continued expansion of the global sales network.
“Johannes brings to us vast experience in international sales of complex audio and video networks. His commercial expertise combined with technical know-how is a real benefit to our organization and we are looking forward to working together,”says Udo Borgmann, CEO at Pan Acoustics.
“At Pan Acoustics I found key values that are crucial to me: quality, experience, passion and fun in what you do. I sincerely believe in success through people and in building long term partnerships. Pan Acoustics has an ideal growth perspective and I’m looking forward to each client who wants to work with us now – and in the future,” says Kampert.
South Africa - Professional audio specialists, Stage Audio Works (SAW) have announced the appointment of Lee Thomson to the newly created role of projects sales manager, with Mike Summerfield taking on the post of distribution sales manager. The move follows the decision to restructure the sales operation into two distinct verticals – namely Projects and Distribution – to better serve both markets.
The Projects team will look after markets served directly by SAW; these include key accounts in the houses of worship, themed attractions and casinos, sports, and performing arts sectors. The Distribution team will manage those markets chiefly served through a reseller/integrator channel; namely corporate AV, education, retail, broadcast, plus rental and staging companies.
“Separate teams will allow us better focus on the specific needs of each vertical, which are quite different,” explains group CTO Nathan Ihlenfeldt. “As part of this new organisation, we’re thrilled to welcome on board Lee Thomson to head up the Projects sales division. Lee brings a vast amount of experience and expertise to the SAW family, especially within the worship market which has been a key growth area for us over the last decade, and I know he’ll be a great asset to the team. The Distribution team is in the capable hands of Mike Summerfield, a valued member of our crew who has been with us since 2012.
“While COVID 19 has presented an incredible challenge to our industry as a whole, the diverse market positioning of our group of companies has proven resilient,”
Germany - Stephan Schenk, as general manager global sales & solutions, has taken over responsibility for the worldwide sales and service of ARRI’s hardware products as well as the company’s solutions business. This newly created position aims to combine and align the sales and service activities across all ARRI product groups and expand the systems business across all markets.
In this role, Stephan Schenk reports directly to executive board member Markus Zeiler. He is responsible for all the sales and service departments of the camera systems and lighting business units, including the ARRI System Group in Berlin. Additionally, the regional managers from the Americas, China, East Asia Pacific, and EMEAI will report to Stephan Schenk.
Schenk joined ARRI in 2009, as head of ARRI’s Business Unit Camera Systems. He was appointed to managing director of Arnold & Richter Cine Technik in July 2014.
“From day one, Stephan Schenk has guided the business activities of the Alexa camera platform to great success and has developed the Camera Systems business unit for more than 10 years. The cornerstone was the system concept he initiated for camera, lenses, components, and interfaces,” says Markus Zeiler. “On behalf of ARRI, I would like to sincerely thank Stephan Schenk for his outstanding achievements and services to the company in recent years. We wish him every success in this new area of responsibility.”
Schenk adds: “We have a comprehensive portfolio of camera and lighting systems and strive to combine our products and service
UK - Event Concept has appointed Adam Stanley to the role of managing director at the company. Stanley will succeed founder Mark Beaver and assume responsibilities immediately. Beaver, who established the firm in 1994, will remain within the business in an advisory capacity.
Stanley joined Event Concept in 2013 as a producer. Working on some of the companies most prolific events, he held roles as account director and most recently, commercial director where he presided over three years of growth.
Mark Beaver comments: “I was delighted to ask Adam to take over as managing director - Adam has an unwavering passion for client satisfaction and delivering truly memorable event experiences and I’m thrilled to see where he takes the business next. Under Adam’s leadership, I know our fantastic team will be supported, encouraged and excited for the next chapter of Event Concept.”
Stanley says: “After undoubtedly the toughest year, we really can now see some light at the end of the tunnel. We’re lucky enough to work with the most fantastic clients and I’m proud of our incredible team for their endless determination over the last 12 months and what we’ve accomplished. I’m delighted to take on the new role of managing director and I can’t wait to see where 2021 and beyond takes us.”
Germany - Loudspeaker manufacturer SE Audiotechnik is expanding its sales department, with the appointments of Manfred Sumfleth and Andreas Mayerl to senior positions.
Manfred ‘Manne’ Sumfleth is now representing SE Audiotechnik in the field as sales manager for Germany. He is a long-standing industry expert and previously worked for well-known professional manufacturers of audio products.
Based in Hamburg, he will be advising sound and lighting rental companies, installation companies and system houses throughout Germany on SE audio technology sound reinforcement solutions. In addition, he will manage his own warehouse in order to be able to organise and carry out product presentations at your premises as quickly as possible.
Since February, Andreas Mayerl has been entrusted with opening up new markets and expanding existing ones as sales director export at SE Audiotechnik. Mayerl has been in the music industry since 1986, including many years with HK Audio. As head of international sales, he was responsible for building up their worldwide distribution network.
“We are very proud to have brought on-board such high-calibre sales experts,” says founder and owner Michael von Keitz, “This allows us to bring our products to the market faster and more efficiently, internationally, and to serve our existing customers even better. Especially now, I think you have to invest in the industry and be courageous - so that together we can finally overcome these very tough times.”
UK - Bill Harkin, designer of Glastonbury Festival’s iconic Pyramid Stage, passed away on Sunday 7th March. He was 83.
Harkin grew up in Liverpool, attending secondary school in Sefton Park before embarking on painting and 3D construction studies, “with the occasional lunch time Beatles gig for 1 shilling at the Cavern.” Soon, Harkin was showing his work at The Liverpool Academy’s shows at the Walker Art Gallery as well as in art and architecture exhibitions for Liverpool University and The John Moores Painting Prize. “Then, somewhat briefly, I started a course in architecture,” he revealed in memoirs on the Pyramid Stage Glastonbury Festival website. “The tedium of course work was more than I could take, I was much more excited by the theatre and the new fabric structures of Frei Otto in Stuffgart.”
Having purchased two of Harkin’s constructions, choreographer and director Bill Harpe invited him to design the stage set, lighting and projection for a production of Stravinsky’s The Soldiers Tale at Liverpool’s Bluecoat arts centre. He went on to work with Graham Frood on Merseyside Unity Theatre’s in-the-round production of Boulevard Durand at St George’s Hall.
Harkin then “left Liverpool for London and the world” before returning to England in 1970 where a moment of meditation whilst helping a friend relocate to Swanage lead him to Glastonbury Tor. There he met a group of kindred spirits, including Tony Andrews (now of Funktion
UK - The Void Acoustics team has announced the expansion of their marketing team with the addition of Sacha Hodges as marketing assistant. Sacha, an audio engineer, joins Amy Harvey who has recently been promoted to marketing manager.
Sacha is a singer-songwriter and recently graduated from dBs Music - the Sound and Music Institute in Bristol with a degree in Audio Production and Sound Engineering.
“My passion for music and sonics was nurtured from an early age, as I grew up in a musical household with my parents introducing me to an eclectic and diverse musical range. This helped develop my love of singing and I have been a vocalist and songwriter for nearly five years. So it was a natural decision to go down the audio route with my studies,” she says.
Sacha’s role will be focussed on the continuing development and expansion of Void Acoustics’ audience and customer base, increasing a greater brand awareness and global recognition for the company.
Europe - Performance systems integrator Pro Media Audio Video is entering the European market with industry veteran Eddie Thomas charged with developing global business for new entity Pro Media Audio Video EU, Thomas brings 30 years of industry knowledge to the role.
Headquartered in Lititz, Pennsylvania, Pro Media Audio Video joined the Clair Global group of companies in 2019. The new EU office will establish a local presence from Britannia Row Productions’ Twickenham base.
Pro Media Audio Video has long established connections in live sports the company enjoys strong relationships with Major League teams in the US.
Pro Media Audio Video general manager, Ted Leamy, comments: “Each of the companies has the same working culture. Eddie shares our values and he is the person chosen to carry this global standard into Europe. Eddie is incredibly well-connected and as we begin this expansion, he is backed up by a very experienced team worldwide. Our presence in the UK will further add to our global information sharing, ultimately as one set of resources.”
Thomas says: “I enjoy working with designers and consultants to create workable solutions and I’m very excited about this new opportunity in such an impressive global business.
“There will be undoubted challenges in the UK and Europe as Brexit unfolds,” Thomas continues. “Yet I am looking forward to developing and working on a range of challenging technical projects. I really enjoy pushing the boundaries of what is expected from an integrator, and it’s a great feeling to
USA - Denmark based professional lighting manufacturer SGM Light A/S has announced that Jason Osterman has joined the SGM team as architectural solutions manager. Osterman, who will remain based in the USA, previously served in various management roles within the architectural and theatrical lighting industries in both the USA and UK.
“I am thrilled to be joining the team at SGM, particularly during this exciting time of creativity in the architectural lighting and media integration sectors. SGM is vastly experienced at creating powerful, top-quality solutions for outdoor environments. Working together with the teams in Denmark and the US, I’m looking forward to developing the next generation of lighting solutions for lighting and media designers,” says Osterman.
By establishing Osterman’s role, SGM is expanding its global team focused on the development of solutions, products, and resources for the architectural market.
"With such level of lighting industry experience and competence, Jason brings a wealth of knowledge and proven track record to the SGM team. Truly a tremendous and exciting addition." says Filippo Frigeri, managing director of SGM North America. "He represents another key resource to continue to fuel the impressive growth we've experienced in the Architectural installation markets worldwide,” adds Ulrik Jakobsen, CEO of SGM Light A/S.
Australia - Meyer Sound has announced the appointment of Owen Ironside to the position of sales manager, Australia and New Zealand. He will assume responsibility for all Meyer Sound sales in the region, supporting the company’s new network of direct resellers throughout the two countries.
Meyer Sound also announced Brisbane-based Ampd Electronics as the new authorised service agent for the region.
Based in Sydney, Ironside will report directly to Chris D’bais and director of international sales Scott Gledhill. Originally from Scotland, Ironside had been working in the UK pro audio and music technology industry since 2000, before migrating to Australia in 2011. Owen brings extensive industry knowledge from his previous live engineering, venue technical management, sales, and installation positions in Europe and Australia for Turnkey/Media Tools, Autograph, Amber Technology, as well as Soundcorp/Diversified and others. Owen joins Meyer Sound from the position of technical sales and business development manager at Meyer Sound’s former Australian distributor, Audio Brands.
“At the beginning of 2021 we launched a direct, non-exclusive reseller network for loudspeaker solutions in Australia and New Zealand, and now with Owen Ironside joining our team we expect our strong sales in this region to gather even greater momentum,” says Meyer Sound sales manager, Asia Pacific Chris D’bais. “Owen’s passion for great sound and his intimate technical knowledge of our p
Europe - Elation Professional’s European headquarters has announced that from 1 March, long-time lighting professional Graham Hill will be serving as the company’s new business development manager.
Graham is a familiar face to many in the industry, having developed many relationships over his many years in the entertainment lighting and electrical industries, including years as a key customer of Elation.
Graham comes to Elation from a position as VP of business development at 4Wall Entertainment, where he developed and maintained customer relationships in Europe and the United Kingdom. He is perhaps best known for his many years as company director of Static Light Company, the London-based supplier of lighting solutions for exhibitions, corporate events, and motor-shows.
Graham’s new role at Elation encompasses building collaborative relationships across the industry internationally, including working closely with lighting designers while communicating market insight to the Elation product team. He states, “This year is the 10th anniversary of my relationship with the Elation team globally. My experience with Elation products and support has always been second to none, from the smallest to the largest clients.”
“We have known and worked with Graham for quite a long time and are delighted that he is finally a full-fledged member of the Elation family,” stated Marc Librecht, sales and marketing manager at Elation Europe. “We’ve worked very close with him over the years and our collaboration with him as a customer has always
UK - 3LR has appointed Christina Nowak as film and studio liaison. A marketing graduate, Nowak has accrued wide experience of business development in the film-technology and production sector, working with brands including Red Digital Cinema, Ncam Technologies and G-Technology.
Matthew Lloyd, MD of 3LR, comments: “Christina will act in a consultancy role for 3LR, developing relationships and raising awareness amongst the film production community of the brands and products we represent. She combines an acute understanding of technologies and their applications with the communications skills essential for developing new business opportunities. Christina’s track record of success is impressive, and demonstrates that she has a ready grasp of the culture of this sector.”
3LR recently took responsibility for representing leading US manufacturer ETC’s broadcast, film and TV range of lighting and control, including its fos/4 range of LED Panel lights and fresnels. Introducing that product’s advantages to the film production sector will be Christina’s initial responsibility for 3LR.
“I’ve enjoyed success in the industry through relationship and community driven roles, and I’m looking forward to connecting 3LR’s brands with an audience who will truly benefit and appreciate their specialised features,” says Christina.
Austria - Family-owned AV Stumpfl GmbH recently appointed two executive directors as part of restructuring measures aimed at maximising the company's management efficiency.
At the core of the new executive directors' tasks will be the operative coordination of the screen and media server departments.
In her new role as executive director, Stefanie Niederwimmer will be responsible for projection screens, with her colleague Christine Doppelmair taking over her former position as head of sales - screens.
Niederwimmer has been with AV Stumpfl since 2004 and has held a number of different positions of strategic importance during that time.
Harry Gladow, formerly a global business development manager, will become the new executive director for the company's media server department. Gladow joined AV Stumpfl in 2017 and was tasked with growing the global distribution network. His extensive previous experience with media servers led him to be heavily involved in the development of the next-gen media server software Pixera.
AV Stumpfl CEO Fabian Stumpfl comments: “Our company experienced substantial growth during the last few years, which led to quite a few changes, like the establishment of our own offices in the USA in 2018. This kind of development also has to be reflected in the management structure, in order to enable further and sustainable growth.”
Tobias Stumpfl, CEO, adds: “We used the current, very challenging times to think deeply about what we could do to ensure that we'll be able to make full use of our company's poten
UK - Having guided Void through four years of growth and structural change followed by a profitable year, David Bissett-Powell has stepped down as chairman of Void Acoustics.
Alex Skan, co-founder and managing director of Void Acoustics has made a statement on behalf of the company. “We are extremely sorry to lose David as our non-exec chair. Over the past four and a half years David has brought tremendous opportunities to us all in the company, and shared with us his wealth of expertise and knowledge of the audio sector.
“The company has benefitted from David’s guidance and unending enthusiasm for Void Acoustics. We will be forever grateful for the input he has given and owe David a huge debt of gratitude for all his energy and encouragement. He will be sorely missed by the Void family across the globe.”
UK - Neutrik UK has announced the appointment of David Morbey to the newly created position of product marketing manager, creating a full marketing role at management level for the first time within the company.
Morbey brings more than 22 years’ experience of pro-audio product marketing, across a wide range of sectors and applications to the new position. He comes to Neutrik having held UK, European and international marketing and product management roles with industry brands, including Allen & Heath, Denon Pro, Marantz Pro, Rane Contractor and Martin Audio, and across DJ, live sound, commercial AV, Custom Install and broadcast installation applications.
Managing director Mark Perrins states, “We are delighted to have the opportunity to appoint David to this key strategic role within Neutrik UK and I am personally delighted to be working with him once again.” Perrins previously worked with Morbey for a number of years during his tenure as general manager at D&M Professional.
“I am truly excited to be joining a talented team at Neutrik UK,” says Morbey. “Neutrik has a long history as a market leader and innovator in the field of connectivity, and I am looking forward to helping shape brand strategy and sales growth in new and non-traditional market sectors for the company’s expanding range of connectivity solutions.”
USA - Roy Bickel will receive the ESTA Lifetime Technical Achievement Award on 6 April, 2021, at the virtual New World Rigging Symposium.
The ESTA Board of Directors and Technical Standards Council created this award in 2017 to recognise individuals whose technical contributions have had a significant impact on our industry. The criteria include significant and sustained technical contributions for at least 25 years. The 2021 award will be presented by Rocky Paulson and Chris Schmidt, who have made the following statements about this year’s winner:
Rocky Paulson writes of Roy’s storied career, “Roy was a circus rigger and performer prior to being hired as the head rigger for the first Disney on Parade show in 1969. He continued until 1974 when he left for Broadway to work for Pete Feller. After a time there, he went on to do the Rolling Stones tour in 1975. That was the beginning of a long career as a ‘rock & roll’ rigger. Roy currently lives in Las Vegas where he has been a fixture in the trade show world for over two decades.
“As the first head rigger on the Disney on Parade shows, he trained people like me in climbing techniques, rigging procedures, and physical fitness regimens to keep us in great shape. Though my direct experience of working for him was limited to a year in the seventies, I know his techniques were taught to many of the first-generation entertainment riggers. This training very much helped the rapid expansion of the industry during the rock & roll explosion. More recently in his career he was
UK - The board of governors of The Royal Central School of Speech and Drama has announced the appointment of Josette Bushell-Mingo OBE as the incoming principal of the school.
Currently the head of acting at Stockholm University of the Arts, Sweden, Bushell-Mingo is an award-winning actor and director whose 40-year career has included performances with the Royal Shakespeare Company, the National Theatre and the Manchester Royal Exchange. She was nominated for an Olivier Award for Best Actress in a Musical for her role as Rafiki in the West End production of The Lion King, a role which she originated, and she devised and starred in the internationally acclaimed production Nina: A Story about Nina Simone and Me.
As a director, Bushell-Mingo was founder and artistic director of PUSH, a Black-led theatre festival with the Young Vic Theatre. Through her work with PUSH, she was awarded an Order of the British Empire (OBE) for services to the arts, a Judy Cramer Award for Innovation, and the Southbank Cultural Diversity Award.
For 13 years, she was also the artistic director for The National Touring Swedish Deaf Theatre ensemble Tyst Teater, where her work focused on fostering the understanding, respect and potential of sign language arts and the artistic, linguistic and cultural rights of the deaf.
Born in London and based in Sweden since 2005, she is an active spokesperson for inclusive arts and politics. She co-founded PUSH’s sister organisation in Sweden, TRYCK, which works to inspire and challenge the artistic and cultural repr
UK - Harman Professional Solutions has announced that Martin Professional has appointed Michael Straun and Nick Hansen as EMEA lighting designer relationship managers for Martin Professional.
Created specifically to facilitate close working relationships with end-users throughout the region, the EMEA lighting designer relationship manager role involves collaborating with lighting designers, Martin distributors and the rental market in all sectors, including television, theatre, touring and more. In addition to bringing real-world experience, first-hand product knowledge and industry connections to the position, Michael and Nick will also provide insight for research and development at Martin.
“We are excited to welcome Michael Straun and Nick Hansen onto the Martin team, especially in the current business climate,” said Ben Payne, head of lighting, Martin EMEA. “As working lighting professionals, they each bring valuable first-hand industry experience to the role. Having used Martin and competitors’ products in the field, their insight and perspective will be indispensable for forming relationships with end users and contributing to product development.”
Michael Straun is a two-time Knight of Illumination Award-winning lighting designer and director from the UK who has toured the world for the past 15 years while working with artists such as The 1975, Shania Twain and Björk. Passionate about the environment, Michael recently received a grant from Arts Council England to fund a study on sustainability within lighting design.
Nick Ha
USA - The Entertainment Services and Technology Association's (ESTA's) Technical Standards Programme (TSP) has announced the 2020 recipients of the annual Above & Beyond Awards.
The TSP exists because hundreds of individuals from across the industry volunteer their expertise and significant amounts of time to write and improve standards that increase safety, provide interoperability between different manufacturers, solve problems, and make life easier. The awards are a chance for volunteers to celebrate those of their peers whom they feel have made a significant contribution to the advancement of the programme.
The 2020 Above & Beyond Awards were presented to:
Ethan Gilson, Entertainment Rigging Services, LLC (Rigging Working Group). Ethan was praised for his expert knowledge of rigging and his unique approach to both analysing rigging challenges and coming up with their answers. His method of evaluating the relevance of a subject and converting it into an ANSI accredited rigging standard is extraordinary. Ethan's enthusiasm about the TSP has also inspired many people to volunteer, which has helped the program flourish.
Wayne Howell, Artistic Licence (Control Protocols Working Group). A long-time consistent contributor to the CPWG, Wayne was lauded for being a task group leader on the E1.20 Remote Device Management (RDM) revision project. Working late hours across international time zones, Wayne has demonstrated exceptional leadership in guiding the task group and has exhibited an admirable determination to make certain that every voi